Method of and apparatus for forming containers for packages



Feb. 16, 1937. Q G 2,070,838

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Filed D60. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

K H M H P A D 14 E Feb. 16, 1937, U T GM Z,@?,$38

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Filed Dec. 15, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 11% EQEY. a Q ROM 2,@?,838

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Filed D80. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb), 16, Q QSM 2,070,338

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sxmm,

G. GRSTROM Feb. 16, 1937.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORM- ING CONTAINERS FOR PACKAGES Sweden Application December 15, 1933, Serial No. 702,616 In Sweden December 19, 1932 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and means for forming containers for packages such as paper-bags, cartons or the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved container which is particularly suitable in the manufacture of packages containing pulverulent, granular, flaky or plastic substances and which will enable the forming of a tight, perfectly shaped package which is very resistant against injurious actions such as impacts, prevents moisture and air gaining access to its contents, and which has an attractive appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container permitting a perfect sealing folding about material supplied thereto with the view of obtaining packages of an invariable size.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a container permitting a perfect sealing folding about material supplied thereto with the view of obtaining packages containing material of an unvariable consistence and weight irrespective of variations of temperature and humidity of the contents of the package.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a method of and means for forming a container to eifect a perfect sealing folding about material With the view of manufacturing pack-.

ages of different capacity and sealing foldings of various kinds when using containers of uniform size and type.

My invention consists mainly in a method of forming containers having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, comprising the formation of grooves such as creases or scores in said sides when forming an open ended tubular body to effect a perfect folding of an end of said body along the creases or scores and more particularly to effect a sealing folding of an upper end of said body having its bottom end sealed with the view of forming a finished container about a material supplied to said container; and my invention consists further in the apparatus for carrying out this method which in the form at present preferred is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an unsealed creased container contemplated by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the container partially closed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the closed container provided with a sealing band partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus partly in section taken on the line VI--VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of certain parts of the apparatus partly in section;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIII--VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front'view of a creasing stamp;

Figs. 10 and 11 are schematic electrical connection diagrams.

The open top ended container shown in Fig. 1, and which is typical of those contemplated by this invention has a rectangular box form and is produced by overlapping two side edges of a rectangular blank to form a tube and thereafter-closing the bottom end of the tube thus obtained. This container after material having been supplied thereto is to be closed so that a package having the well known appearance shown in Fig. 3 is obtained. The fold P thereby obtained is usually covered with a sealing band R. On closing the container the folding is effected along the lines A--N indicated in Fig. 1, the first step of the folding operation imparting to the container the form illustrated in Fig. 2 and on the second step of said operation the container is completely closed as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 3. When producing packages of a kind containing pulverulent, granular, flaky or plastic substances such folding operation cannot be executed satisfactorily unless the folding lines are previously weakened, the package being rendered an unattractive appearance and moisture and air may gain access to its contents as it will not be perfectly tightly closed. This inconvenience has hitherto been merely in part removed by providing a sheet adapted for forming the container with creases corresponding to the sealing foldings.

In order to completely remove said inconvenience the creasings along which the folding is executed are according to this invention applied to the sides of the open ended tubular body of the container. Thereby irregularities caused by incorrect folding of a creased paper sheet for forming the tubular body are avoided so that the end of the tubular body may be perfectly closed, and there is no more risk that the ends of transverse creases applied to the paper sheet will not conjoin at an overlapping vertical seam of the container being obtained subsequent to the creasing of the paper sheet. Moreover the present invention renders it possible to apply the creases to the container in any desired manner being considered most suitable for each individual kind of closing. Though the method and means for carrying out the invention is also applicable to the handling of a paper tube or the like having its both ends open for the purpose of obtaining a perfect sealing folding of its bottom end the method and means according to the invention are particularly well adapted for the provision of a perfect closing of a finally loaded container such as a paper bag or the like, due to the fact that the creases may by convenient adjustment be easily applied to the open tubular body of the container at the proper distance of the sealed bottom end of the container or at proper distance of or close to the material supplied thereto. Moreover temporary variations of moisture and temperature and thereby arising changes in solid capacity of the material may easily be encountered by manual or automatical adjustment of the creasing process and means so that the closing foldings may permanently be effected close above the level of the material delivered to the container or said creasings may be permanently applied to the sides of the container at any desired distance of a bulk load slightly less in amount than the final contents of the container so that a predetermined final load subsequently delivered to the container having been creased will reach the lowermost part of the creasings thereby rendering it possible to close the container tightly about the material, and to obtain a package having an attractive appearance and being very resistant against impacts when the finished packing is manipulated. By carrying out this invention however still another advantageous result is obtained, consisting in that the creasing of the sides of the open tubular body of a container having a sealed bottom end renders it easily possible to the manufacturer of finished packages to apply the creases at any desired and exact distance of the bottom end of container of a certain uniform size and type and thus he may use such uniform containers for the manufacturing of perfectly shaped packings of different sizes and kinds which will consider- :ably reduce manufacturing expenses. It should be noted that creasing or creases includes any operation or result such as scores or the like obtained by any operation causing tight weaken- 'ing of suchlines of the sides that correspond to the sealing foldings, and though I will hereinafter describe a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for automatically handling a container it will be understood that at least part of the operations for creasing a tubular body of a finished or unfinished container may be performed manually and nevertheless the improved result peculiar to this invention departing from the ordinary practice will be attained.

Referring now in detail to the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings: I indicates the container to be creased which is passed through the machine by an intermittently driven conveyor 2 actuated by driving means of well known kind, and, when opened into its rectangular box form, is brought into position beneath a bulk loading mechanism 3 shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and Band discharging at predetermined intervals to the open ended containers a measured quantity of material less than the final contents thereof possibly by means of a.

transporting screw or the like and a shutter 66 actuated from a slide 25 to periodically open the spout 61 of the mechanism 3. The partly filled containers are conveyed successively into position beneath a block shaped creasing member 5 and above a pusher plate 4. Then the pusher plate 4 is elevated so that the container ascends and the block member 5 will enter the container. When having occupied this position the creasing operation is to be accomplished and thereafter the container having possibly been supplied with a final load of material of a predetermined amount is retracted and then moved further by the conveyor out of the machine or toward mechanisms for finally sealing. the filled container possibly after having been supplied with an additional quantity of material. Step by step motion is imparted to the conveyor 2 from a shaft 33 having a geared wheel I which meshes with another geared wheel ll having a disc I2 rotat-' ably journaled on a vertical shaft (not shown) in the frame. The disc 12 is provided with a single tooth 13 which at each revolution of the wheel H engages a projection M of the conveyor 2, moving said projection and thereby the conveyor one step forward.

The rectangular hollow block depending from the under side of a frame plate i9 is developed as a mandrel or matrix and has its side walls provided with grooves corresponding to the creases to be obtained in the container as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the block is tapered to permit it to readily enter the container and it is provided with an air outlet l1 and with a channel 65 for supplying material to the container simultaneous with the creasing opera-- tion or subsequent to said operation. The periodical material supply through the channel is obtained by forming the hub 68 of the gear wheel 3| as a shutter coacting with the slotted flange 69. The plate I9 with the block 5 may be adjusted vertically. The grooves 8, 9, l0 and H of the block 5 correspond to the creases C, D, K and H in the container. Said block is embraced by two pairs of dies 6 and 1 respectively which are provided with preferably exchangeable ridges or knives corresponding to the grooves in the block 5. The ridges l2, l5, l3, l4, I5 and I6 for instance correspond to grooves in the block for effecting the creases A, B, E, L, M and N of the container. Brackets 20 are secured to the under side of the plate l9 and carry guides for the dies 6 and I. The dies 6 and 'I are by means of screws 2! secured to plates 22 forming an extension of a bar 50 having oblong holes 48. The bar 50 is adjustably secured by means of screws 41 to a slide 25 axially movable in the bottom ends of the brackets 20 so that its distance of the block wall may be adjusted as desired. The screws 2| for securing the dies 6 and I to the plates 22 project through oblong holes 23 in the die plates and are removable so that the vertical position of the latter may be adjusted. The slide 25 has a transverse slot 26 in which runs a rectangular member 21 which is rotatably journalled on an eccentric pin 28 projecting from the bottom end of a spindle 29 which is in turn rotatably journalled in a bracket 20. In order to very exactly adjust the position of the bar 5i) relative to the slide 25 an adjusting screw 24 is screwed to the latter and is axially but not rotatably secured to an upright flange 5| of the bar 50. A geared wheel 30 is secured to the upper end of each spindle 29 and the four geared wheels thus obtained mesh each with a central idle gear 3|. One of the wheels 30 meshes also with a geared wheel 32 secured to a vertical shaft 33 rotatably journalled in the frame I8.

Obviously by rotating the shaft 33 the planetary gear consisting of the gears 30 and 3l wil1 rotate simultaneously and the rectangular member on the rotating spindles 29 will provide continuous swinging movements on simultaneously running in the grooves 26 of the slides 25 so that the latter will obtain reciprocating movements to and from a side wall of the block 5, and by engagement with a container pushed about said block they will execute the creasing operation desired.

In order to time the operations of the pusher plate 4 and the creasing mechanism a main driving shaft 34 is provided, said shaft being connected to the vertical shaft 33 by means of a bevel gear 35. The shaft 34 is connected in any convenient well known manner to the means for driving the conveyor 2 so that said conveyor and the creasing mechanism will operate in timed relation to one another. A double armed lever ispivoted to a shaft 45 in the frame of the machine, one of its arms 39 being pivotally connected to a link 40 and its other arm 38 being pivotally and slidably connected to a vertical rod 31 carrying the pusher plate 4. One end of the link 40forms a fork 4| enclosing a member 42 which is rotatably journalled on the shaft 34 and carries a roller 43 which is by means of a tension spring 49. forced against a cam 44 which is secured to the shaft 34. One end of the tension spring 49 is connected to the arm 38, its other end being connected to the frame l8 at 52. The rod 31 is slidably mounted in a guide 36 in the frame I8 its rotating movement being prevented by the arm 38. A stop screw 46 is adjustably arranged in the frame to limit the upward stroke of the arm 38 and the rod 31 with the plate 4.

It is obvious that on rotating the shaft 34 the arm 38 and thereby the pusher plate 4 will obtain reciprocating movements to alter nately push a container about the block and thereupon descend again by its own weight. By adjusting the stop screw 46 it is possible to limit the upward stroke of the plate 4 so that said plate will obtain exactly the desired top position and thereby it is rendered possible to obtain a creased container the creases of which arepositioned exactly at the desired distance of its bottom end. Then when the plate 4 occupies its uppermost position the roller 43 does not engage the cam 44. If desired the screw 46 may be dispensed with and in such case the spring 49 may force the plate 4 with the container upwards until its contents hit the block 5 and thereby the upward movement is arrested. At

any rate the cam 44 is curved in such manner tainer pushed thereabout.

In order to obtain a package the contents of which is not to be compressed means may be provided for automatically stopping the upward movement of the pusher plate when the container has ascended to a vertical position such as to permit creasing at a correct height position irrespective of temporary variations in the structure and volume of the contents supplied to the container. With this object in view an electric switch (Fig. 7) is arranged at the bottom end of the block 5. Said switch comprises a yielding metallic tongue 53 fastened to the mantle of the block by a screw 54 and a rigid metallic plate 55 fastened to the block mantle by means of a screw 56. These screws and plates are all isolated from the block mantle and the screws are connected with opposite poles of an electric battery 51 (Fig. 11) in an electric circuit including an electromagnet 58, the core 59 of which is adapted to be forced against the rod 31. I

This device operates in the following manner:-

When the container completely or partly supplied for instance with flour is elevated by the pusher plate 4 actuated by lever arm 38 and when the material in the container hits the yielding tongue 53 the latter will yield upwards to engage the plate 55 thereby closing the electric circuit and thus inducing the coil of the electro-magnet 58 to force the core 59 against the rod 31 and arrest movements of said rod caused by the spring 49. Thereby the creases will be applied to the container at an invariable distance from the level of the material previously supplied to the container, so that a perfect sealingis obtained irrespective of the level of the material in the container. Such variations may temporarily arise for instance on account of changes in temperature or moisture of the contents of the container. After the finished creasing operation the rod 31 is forced downward a slight distance by the cam 44 till the switch has interrupted the circuit and then the cam will readily move the container down again.

It may however also, especially if transparent containers for instance of a material sold under the trade-mark Cellophane or the like are used be convenient to provide optical means for obtaining the adjustment of the creases desired. For that purpose a photoelectric cell 60 (Fig. 6) and an opposite incandescent lamp 6| or the like may be provided at a proper vertical position in the proximity of the creasing means, so that untransparent objects may interrupt the optical communication between the lamp and the light sensitive surface of the photoelectric cell. As is illustrated in Fig. the photocell 60 is connected to a circuit including an electric battery 63 and a relay 64 the latter being adapted to close or interrupt another electric circuit including a battery 62 and the electromagnet 58 acting upon the rod 31 in the same manner as has heretofore been disclosed.

It will be easily understood that in the case an untransparent object is moved into a certain position between the lamp 6| and the photoelectric cell 60 the electric resistance in said cell will increase to such an extent that practically no current is passing through the circuit. Thereby the relay 64 will close the circuit of the electromagnet 58.

Various changes are contemplated as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the and the exterior creasing members are provided with ridges it will be understood that the contrary may occur. Thus the stamps 6- and I may have grooves and the mandrel may have ridges. Such grooves and ridges may be supposed to be illustrated in Fig. 8.

I claim: a

1. An apparatus for forming containers for packages having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, including a pair of coacting members adapted to act upon opposite surfaces of a side of said tubular body to apply grooves to said side, a pusher adapted to move said tubular body into operative position relative to said co acting members, and a yielding member adapted to engage material supplied to said container and automatically arrest said pusher.

2. An apparatus for forming containers for packages having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, including a pair of coacting members adapted to act upon opposite surfaces of a side of said tubular body to apply grooves to said side, a pusher adapted to move said tubular body into operative position relative to said coacting members, means for arresting the movements of said pusher, and photoelectric means adapted to affect said arresting means under the influence of material supplied to said container.

3. A method of forming packages, which includes the steps of supplying to a container having a plurality of sides a bulk load of material, positively supporting said sides to constitute an open-ended tubular body and maintain the regular unfolded shape of said body on creasing all of said sides in a single operation, and supplying a final load of material to said container.

4. A machine for manufacturing packages having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, including a mandrel having fiat side walls each shaped to support one side of said tubular body maintaining the flat shape of said sides, one die being arranged opposite to each of said side walls and each having a flat face, means for simultaneously advancing the dies towards said walls and pressing all the sides of said body substantially flat against said side walls, a movable member for sleeving said tubular body onto said mandrel, and means for adjusting the stroke of said movable member, said mandrel and said dies having grooves and corresponding ridges for forming creases in the sides of the unfolded tubular body.

5. A machine for manufacturing packages having a plurality of sides constituting a. tubular body, including a mandrel having flat side Walls each shaped to support one side of said tubular body maintaining the flat shape of said sides, one die being arranged opposite to each of said side walls and each having a flat face, means for simultaneously advancing the dies towards said walls and pressing all the sides of saidbody substantially flat against said side walls, a movable member for sleeving said tubular body onto said mandrel, said member yielding to stresses counteracting its sleeving movement, and said mandrel and said dies having grooves and corresponding ridges for forming creases in the sides of the unfolded tubular body.

6. An apparatus for forming containers for packages having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, including a mandrel having flat side walls each shaped to support one side of said tubular body maintaining its regular unfolded shape, one die opposite to each of said side walls, means for simultaneously advancing the dies towards said walls and pressingthe walls substantially fiat against said side walls, a mechanism for supplying material to the container, and means for operating said mechanism in timed relation to the means for advancing the dies, said mandrel and said dies having grooves and corresponding ridges for forming creases in the sides of the unfolded tubular body.

'7. An apparatus for forming containers for packages having a plurality of sides constituting a tubular body, including a rigid member having fiat side walls each shaped to support one side of said tubular body maintaining its regular unfolded shape, one die opposite to each of said side walls, means for simultaneously advancing the dies towards said walls and pressing the sides of said body substantially fiat against said side walls, and means for supplying material through said rigid member to the container, said rigid member and said dies having grooves and corresponding ridges for forming creases in the sides of the unfolded tubular body.

8. A method of manufacturing packages, comprising threading a paper bag having thin side walls onto a mandrel having flat walls, pressing the side walls of the bag against said walls of the mandrel to form creases in the side walls of the bag so as to maintain the bag end fully open, supplying non-liquid material to the open bag, then breaking the walls of the bag at the creases and sealing the bag.

9. A method of manufacturing packages, comprising threading a paper bag having thin side walls onto a mandrel having flat walls, pressing the side walls of the bag against said walls of the mandrel to form creases in the side walls of the bag so as to maintain the bag end fully open and simultaneously supplying non-liquid material to the bag, then breaking the walls of the bag at the creases, and sealing the bag.

GUSTAF (BRSTRGM. 

